The Connecticut Legislature is considering a bill that would ban plastic bags in the state by 2010. Susan Haigh of the Associated Press writes that other countries have done much more to deal with dangerous plastic marine debris pollution:

"The United States lags behind many other countries in placing limits on plastic bags. Ireland and Germany charge fees for every bag handed out by stores, and several African nations have set thickness requirements that have effectively banned the flimsy thin bags that float in the air. Last year, San Francisco was the first city in the country to ban petroleum-based plastic bags in grocery stores. New York City last month required stores to collect and recycle bags."